The Stars
David Bowie (The Next Day / 2013) Lyrics

Stars are never sleeping
Stars are always watching us, both the living and the dead.

Dead ones and the living
Stars are watching over and observing everyone, whether they are alive or dead.

We live closer to the earth
As humans, we are more grounded and connected to the physical world than to the spiritual realm.

Never to the heavens
We are not as connected to the heavens and the stars as we are to the earth and its physical forms.

The stars are never far away
Although we may feel disconnected from the stars, they are always present in our lives.

Stars are out tonight
The stars are visible and shining brightly tonight.

They watch us from behind their shades
The stars observe us from a distance, often feeling detached like celebrities watching their fans from behind sunglasses.

Brigitte, Jack and Kate and Brad
Possible references to famous celebrities (real or fictional) who embody the essence of the stars that watch over us.

From behind their tinted window stretch
The stars gaze at us through the vastness of space, just as celebrities view the world through the tinted windows of their limousines.

Gleaming like blackened sunshine
The stars shine brightly even though they are distant and surrounded by darkness, like the sun on a cloudy day.

Waiting for the first move
The stars are observing us, waiting for us to make a move or take action in our lives.

Satyrs and their child wives
Possible mythological references to satyrs, who represent untamed and primal aspects of human nature, and their child-like wives may represent innocence or vulnerability.

Waiting for the last move
The stars are watching us until the very end of our lives, waiting to see how it all unfolds.

Soaking up our primitive world
The stars observe and absorb everything happening in our world, including our basic and instinctual behaviors.

Their jealousy's spilling down
The stars may feel envious of humans because we have more tangible experiences in the physical world than they do.

The stars must stick together
The stars are united in their observations of us and their own experiences in space.

We will never be rid of these stars
The stars are omnipresent and will always be a part of our lives.

But I hope they live forever
Despite their detachment, the singer wishes for the stars to continue to shine and exist.

And they know just what we do
The stars know every move we make and observe all aspects of our lives.

That we toss and turn at night
The stars observe us at our most vulnerable, even as we sleep and dream.

They're waiting to make their moves
The stars are watching and waiting for their own opportunities to influence or affect us.

Here they are upon the stairs
The stars may appear suddenly, just as an audience in a theater appears on a balcony or staircase during a performance.

Sexless and unaroused
The stars are androgynous and lack physical bodies or desires, yet still emit powerful energy.

They are the stars, they're dying for you
The artist acknowledges that even the stars are devoted to us, but only in a symbolic, transcendent sense.

They burn you with their radiant smiles
The stars emit powerful energy and light, which can be overwhelming or enlightening to humans who gaze upon them.

Trap you with their beautiful eyes
The stars can captivate and hold our attention, despite their distance and remote nature.

They're broke and shamed or drunk or scared
The stars may also experience pain, fear, and vulnerability, even if they are celestial beings.

The stars are out tonight
Echoing the opening line, the stars are present and watching us tonight.